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Wilber Township vs Bates Township

279 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.5× in Wilber Township) and conserved land (+24.2 pts in Wilber Township).

W ×
Wilber Township, MIAn outdoors townIosco County · 732 people
B ×
Bates Township, MIAn outdoors townIron County · 927 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Wilber TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors62.3% conserved land164 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Wilber Township →
Bates TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.1% conserved land112 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves All about Bates Township →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker3.5×
Wilber Township is more of a job hub
Wilber Township 0.39Bates Township 0.11
Conserved land+24.2 pts
Wilber Township has more conserved land
Wilber Township 62.3%Bates Township 38.1%
Property tax bill+20%
Tax bills are bigger in Bates Township
Bates Township $1,786Wilber Township $1,489
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Wilber Township$1,010/mo
Typical home $169K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $1,333/mo · Housing →
Bates Township$1,000/mo
Typical home $163K (Census) · tax rate 1.09% · or rent about $775/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
Wilber TownshipBates Township
Snow a year49″67″
January low13°F0°F
July high80°F77°F
Growing season (days)148d95d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)7th23rd
Outdoors & history
Wilber TownshipBates Township
Trails164 mi112 mi
Conserved land62.3%38.1%
National Register places—2
Community
Wilber TownshipBates Township
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

279 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Wilber TownshipIosco CountyBates TownshipIron County
Wilber Township ↔ Bates Township279 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Wilber TownshipBates Township
People
Population 732Lowest 927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.2%Lowest MI: +2% +0.4%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 58±4Highest 44% above MI 57.5±5.8Lowest 43% above MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 14.2%±4.2Lowest MI: 21.2% 15.1%±4.7Highest MI: 21.2%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 35.5%±4.2Lowest MI: 18.6% 40%±4Highest MI: 18.6%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.7%Lowest MI: 32.4% 25.5%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.6%±2.1Lowest MI: 6.1% 5.9%±4Highest MI: 6.1%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,667±$6kHighest 9% below MI $54,688±$13kLowest 25% below MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $168,900±$10kHighest 27% below MI $163,200±$67kLowest 30% below MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,333±$397Highest 18% above MI $775±$247Lowest 31% below MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,489Lowest 49% below MI $1,786Highest 38% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 12.5%±100Lowest MI: 50.4% 80%±8.7Highest MI: 50.4%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 14.2%Lowest MI: 13.2% 15.5%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 96.8%Highest MI: 73.2% 92.7%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1978Highest 6 yrs newer than MI 1972Lowest same as MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 minLowest 6% above MI 28 minHighest 17% above MI
Work from home 6.6%±4.8Lowest MI: 13.5% 15.2%±11.1Highest MI: 13.5%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 0.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 29.8 miHighest 13.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.39Highest 0.11Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Au Sable Township (12%)Iron River (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Bates TownshipFew work in Wilber Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 62.3%Highest 38.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 164.4 miHighest 112.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.3 miHighest 0.9 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 8Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.1Highest 0.8Lowest
Michigan average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Wilber Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wilber Township’s Town Square.

Bates Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bates Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Wilber Township

O
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Oscoda Township7,176 people · $123K homes
B
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Baldwin Township1,871 people · $181K homes
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Plainfield Township3,353 people · $174K homes
A
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Au Sable Township2,298 people · $116K homes

Towns like Wilber Township

F
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Forester Township970 people · $192K homes
P
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Pleasanton Township794 people · $233K homes
K
+ Compare
Krakow Township788 people · $237K homes
S
+ Compare
Sugar Island Township577 people · $175K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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